Nigerian singer and songwriter Adekunle Gold has spoken candidly about his lifelong struggle with sickle cell disease, revealing that he still experiences painful crises despite decades of managing the condition.
In a recent video interview shared on social media, the 38-year-old artist reflected on his journey living with the illness, describing the recurring pain and emotional toll it has taken since childhood.
"I still have crises," Adekunle said, recounting how he has been on medication since the age of five.
"Unfortunately for me, my parents are sickle cell and they brought me to the world. The first time I ever heard of sickle cell was when I would fall sick every time with my joints paining me," he said.
He went on to explain that his crises often affect his legs, joints, and sometimes his stomach, calling the experience "really crazy."
Recalling one of his earliest memories with the illness, the 'Something Different' crooner narrated how his mother carried him on her back through the night to a hospital when his father was away.
"I don’t remember how old I was, maybe five or seven. That was when the doctor told me about it, and that I would be taking folic acid and B complex for the rest of my life," he said.
Although he still experiences sickle cell crises occasionally, Adekunle said they have become more manageable with proper care, medication, and lifestyle adjustments.
"I still have crises once in a while but not as bad as I had it when I was a child. Maybe because I have found a way to take care of myself more properly. And I’m grateful to God for the resources to be able to do that," he added.
The award-winning musician also used the opportunity to advocate for genotype awareness, stressing the need for more education and public engagement on sickle cell prevention.
"My vision is to make more noise about it because a lot of people don’t know about it, and important organisations are not doing enough," he said.
"Where sickle cell is more popular or where people know it most is my country Nigeria. And it happens when an SS matches an SS. And that’s why knowing your genotype is very important because the point is you should not bring many more kids that have sickle cell," Adekunle Gold, known for hits like 'Orente' and 'High' said.
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